Riddlefest

On June 25, Traditional Voices Group will host this annual event at the Burnsville Town Center from 7 to 9 p.m. The Burnsville Jubilee Choir featuring the Griffith Chapel Singers will be the featured presentation. The evening will open with performances by the Celtalachian harmony group Thistle Dew and Americana singer Ash Devine. Concessions will feature home-made desserts.

The Burnsville Jubilee Choir is being organized this spring by Dr. Tim Babb, retired music director of Yancey County Schools. Dr. Babb is recruiting singers from Burnsville’s best church choirs, and he has arranged Lesley Riddle’s gospel songs for choral performance. The Griffith Chapel Singers, under the direction of Sam Maren, will lead the audience in participatory gospel singing of traditional local songs.

RiddleFest is produced annually by Traditional Voices Group (TVG), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the music and stories of the Toe River Valley in the southern Appalachian Mountains. TVG also promotes the contributions made by native son Lesley Riddle to the development of country music in its early days. RiddleFest is a way to learn about Riddle and celebrate his life and music. For more information on RiddleFest contact TVG at 828-682-9654 or checkout its Facebook page.